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"I cannot answer your question, Miss Maxon," he said, finally, "for your father's

strictest injunction has been that I divulge to no one the slightest happening

within the court of mystery. Remember that I am in your father's employ, and

that no matter what my personal convictions may be regarding the work he has

been doing I may only act with loyalty to his lightest command while I remain

upon his payroll. That you are here," he added, "is my excuse for continuing my

connection with certain things of which my conscience does not approve."

The girl glanced at him quickly. She did not fully understand the motive for his

final avowal, and a sudden intuition kept her from questioning him. She had

learned to look upon von Horn as a very pleasant companion and a good friend--

she was not quite certain that she would care for any change in their relations,

but his remark had sowed the seed of a new thought in her mind as he had

intended that it should.

When von Horn returned to the court of mystery, he narrated to Professor Maxon

the gist of his conversation with Virginia, wishing to forestall anything which the

girl might say to her father that would give him an impression that von Horn had

been talking more than he should. Professor Maxon listened to the narration in

silence. When von Horn had finished, he cautioned him against divulging to

Virginia anything that took place within the inner campong.

"She is only a child," he said, "and would not understand the importance of the

work we are doing. All that she would be able to see is the immediate moral effect

of these experiments upon the subjects themselves--she would not look into the

future and appreciate the immense advantage to mankind that must accrue from

a successful termination of our research. The future of the world will be assured

when once we have demonstrated the possibility of the chemical production of a

perfect race."

Number One, for example," suggested von Horn.

Professor Maxon glanced at him sharply.

Levity, Doctor, is entirely out of place in the contemplation of the magnificent

work I have already accomplished," said the professor tartly. "I admit that

Number One leaves much to be desired--much to be desired; but Number Two

shows a marked advance along certain lines, and I am sure that tomorrow will

divulge in experiment Number Three such strides as will forever silence any

propensity toward scoffing which you may now entertain."

"Forgive me, Professor," von Horn hastened to urge. "I did not intend to deride

the wonderful discoveries which you have made, but it is only natural that we

The Monster Men